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Features
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| Introducing NEM3SI$’s new label Infinite Resistance! | | Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! | | Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! | | Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! | | Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. | | Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! | | Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! | | NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! | | Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! | | Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! | | Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! | | SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! | | The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! | | NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! | | Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project | | The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! | | A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden | | Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma | | Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino | | New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! | | PAN expands on many things including his new album 'Hyperbolic Oxymoron' due for release on the 14th April 2022 on PsyWorld Records! | | Psibindi talks all things music including her new collaborative EP 'Sentient Rays' on Aphid Records, her band Sentience Machine and 10 years of Psy-Sisters! |
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Get In Depth with Whitby
Reported by Simon Gordon
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Submitted 15-07-09 08:26
Love him or hate him, Andy Whitby is one of the most successful DJs to emerge from the hard house scene in many years. His marmite style of accapellas, bootlegs, remixes and shaved eyebrows evokes feelings of adulation and loathing in equal measures, yet when it comes to filling venues, selling pants or winning awards, there’s not many that can touch him!
How long have you been DJing and do you have any tips for new DJs?
I’ve been DJing for just under 11 year’s altogether, seven of which have been in clubs. Time flies when you’re having fun!
Tip-wise I always say the same; be original. Everyone is a DJ now, or at least everyone thinks they are! Try to come up with your own style or sound, don’t just mix all your latest records together really tightly and think it’ll get you somewhere - in 2009 it’s not enough.
For practicing, even now, I don’t use my headphones. It sounds strange but in a club you never know when you’re going to have awful monitors or dodgy equipment so to be prepared for something happening I always practice without my headphones. It helps judge if tracks are going too fast or too slow quicker and teaches you the best way to bring tracks into the mix.
When and where was your first paid gig? What was it like?
My first paid gig was at a club in Manchester, for a promotion called Addiction. The vibe there was always absolutely top-notch as it was the official after-party of Goodgreef who were round the corner. Each month about 400 – 500 people from Goodgreef would come stumbling into Addiction and we’d rock on until 12 midday Sunday!
Addiction was also the first place that gave me a residency, so I said I would play for one year without being paid to show them what I was about. When the year expired, much to the delight of my parents, I started on the huge wage of £50 per set.
Which DJs inspired you to pick up the headphones?
I didn’t start DJing because of another DJ. I did it because I enjoyed music and wanted to make tapes for my friends at School.
People like Hixxy, DJ Sy, Vibes and Fergie all played a big part in my DJing afterwards however, with the Mixmag CD Let There Be Hardhouse mixed by Fergie in 2000 being a huge turning point in my life making me realise I wanted to play hard dance as a career.
Which producers encouraged you to start making tracks?
Again, it wasn’t a producer that really inspired me to make tracks, more just wanting to get my own ideas into my sets.
The first producer I worked with was Ingo, which was great fun but the 2 tracks we came out with were completely forgettable as it was all such a learning curve for me.
Peter Prichard, the director and owner of Nukleuz, was the man who really taught me the importance of writing music and being original in productions. He always stressed the importance of the hook in a track; I feel I benefitted greatly from his knowledge with my time at Nukleuz.
What was your favourite club night when you were a clubber?
This one’s easy; Sundissential North at Club Evolution in Leeds. Every month my friend Steve and I would go up there in his bright yellow Fiat Cinquecento with a huge red Sundissential logo on the bonnet.
We’d meet up with all our friends in the pub next door and the head over to the club after a few pints. Lisa Lashes, Mark Grey, [Jez & Charlie, Rob Tissera, Kinson & The Fruitbat, Strange Dave & Dangle were just a few of the DJs I used to bounce around the dance floors to!
When did you first play for Frantic? How did that come about?
I first played for Frantic in February 2004 at Mass for Timeless. I remember it being immensely busy with cameras above the decks looking directly down onto the mixer so the clubbers could see what the DJs were doing on big screens; a brilliant idea!
It came about because I quit my job at the local village store after a row with the boss. When I walked outside to my car I had an answer-phone message from Lisa Porter who was the agent at Nukleuz DJ Agency, saying she wanted to book me for a night after hearing my third demo CD AW3. I called back and we sorted the booking.
An hour later she rang back and said everyone in the office was talking about signing me to Nukleuz and Frantic - all off the back of a demo!
As corny as the story sounds I do believe in fate, so something made me quit my job for a reason that day.
Why did you set up AWsum Records? How is it going?
I set up AWsum Records because I felt although the music I was playing in clubs week-in, week-out was hugely popular; no labels were coming forward and supporting it. They were relying on tried-and-tested tracks with no excitement or fun about them, mainly due to the stigma attached to the bouncier end of the scene at that time.
I put together a team of producers who shared the same beliefs and the label was born, mainly based around the productions of Klubfiller, Gammer and obviously myself.
As time has gone on, I’ve invited more artists onto the label; MDA & Spherical, Tom Parr, SQ, Audio Riot and most recently Midi Distortion who have all had big releases in 2009 on AWsum showcasing the full range of what I feel is the nu-sound of hard dance.
Why did you set up the AWsum Events? When was the first one and how did it go? When is the next one in London?
I set up the events side of the brand because I felt I had something to offer clubbers. With Will Paterson as my manager and close friend I’ve learnt a great deal watching how he puts on his shows. As a promoter he’s done a huge amount in the last 10 years so I try to absorb all the knowledge he gives me and put it into my own parties.
The first event we put on was One AWsum Night on December 1st 2007. We held it at the warehouse below the club formerly known as Bagleys and as far as first events go I think it went ok. There were a few problems with the sound and some people weren’t sure about the venue being so ‘underground’ but we bounced back from that by selling out Ministry Of Sound the following May bank holiday.
The next one in London is on Saturday 5th December at Hidden and we’ve got some very special things lined up! Full announcement is coming soon so watch this space!
You have been asked to bring AWsum to all the major events in the UK. One of these events is Westfest. What have you got planned and why should we go?
Each year I have a series of goals for myself and AWsum. Last year we focused on the music side of things more, putting out big records and building the profile of the brand through that.
This year has again been about that but also putting on a lot of events and tour nights all over the country and now we’ve been invited to host our own arena with Frantic at the upcoming Westfest!
Westfest, in a nutshell, is a festival which holds around 10,000 clubbers each year, showcasing the very best in hardcore, hard dance, drum & bass, garage and much, much more. It’s hosted by Slammin’ Vinyl who have been putting on events for years with huge success so to be part of that this year is a great achievement for the brand.
Our arena will feature some of the most exciting and entertaining acts in hard dance with the full line-up and ticket info being released very soon.
For those who have been they’ll tell you straight away it’s a brilliant event for clubbers who love their harder music and a great place to meet lots of fellow-minded party people wanting to have a top night out!
Another key event is the AWsum Arena at Atomik. What can clubbers and ravers expect if they haven't been to Atomik before?
The last Atomik Weekender was a big thing, bringing together the biggest brands across dance music for one weekend of absolute chaos. After the success of the first one, they’re putting on another in November and AWsum are hosting the second arena on the Saturday night.
Anyone who has been to Pontins in Prestatyn will know the second arena is huge and the perfect place to throw an AWsum party!
The line-up I chose was a combination of the AWsum All-Starz; Cally Gage, Gammer, Klubfiller, MDA & Spherical and myself, combined with the newbie’s on the label Tom Parr and Midi Distortion plus some special guests thrown in for good measure in the form of Technikore and Frisky.
Combine that line-up with the AWsum décor, visuals and usual incredible AWsum atmosphere and it’s going to be one hell of a great night!
You are headlining Frantic's 12th Birthday at Koko. What has been your best experience of Koko?
Anyone who has been to Koko will know the magic that lies within that venue.
There’s something about the décor, the balconies, the atmosphere! It all comes together and when I walk onto that stage and see hundreds and hundreds of clubbers seemingly bearing down on me from the tall levels of the club it just fires me up so much - I know it’s game time.
I’ve had lots of amazing moments at Koko, from my debut there, my back to back with Cally Gage and my set last year which I enjoyed immensely, each event I get an incredible memory from.
You get on well with Kutski who is joining you at HDS next Fri 17th July. What do you think of Kutksi's mad 'anything goes' mixtapes he hosts on his Myspace?
I’ve known John long before we were playing all over the World, back when we were just two lads who lived in Cheshire. He is by far one of the most laid back and sound guys on the scene.
The mixes on his site are brilliant. As artists, we’re always looking for new projects and things to try so it’s great to see John’s mix tapes being so popular as it’s a unique thing to do.
HHA is hosting its 9th Birthday on Saturday 17th Oct at the 4500 Capacity Brixton Academy. What’s so special about HHA?
HHA is always a huge highlight on my calendar. As soon as Will tells me he’s putting on one, the date is instantly circled as I know it’s going to be a mind-blowing show.
Imagine 4500 Hard-dance-loving nutters, going crazy every time a big track is dropped with mind-blowing on-stage visuals, perfect sound and the sort of line-up you can only dream about. I know it sounds too good to be true, but HHA is really that amazing; I love it!
I’ve heard that you love playing computer games. What’s your fave and can you beat Klubfiller?
After a hard day of music there’s nothing better than winding down by playing video games. I have all three consoles; 360, PS3 and Wii, so there’s always a good choice to choose from!
Right now I’m jamming on Resident Evil 5 and COD4 on 360 or UFC Unleashed and FIFA 09 on PS3, if anyone wants a game against me on any of those my gamer tag on both is saviourwhitby.
Klubfiller is fairly decent at FIFA 09, I’ll give him that, but once I start playing with both my hands it’s game over.
Whitbytowers is an after party haunt for various DJs. Can you reveal any stories?!
It does seem to be the place to be for my fellow AWsum Artists; obviously Cally Gage and I live there, but Klubfiller and Matt Lee are regulars after gigs, plus all our usual friends drop by.
There are lots of stories I could tell you from past parties, but as I don’t have the space I’ll just tell you about a recent one we had the night before Cally and Gammer went to HTID In The Sun.
We all went out in the daytime to the local pub beer garden to enjoy the sun, before everyone headed back to ours. Nathalie (DJ and close friend) was really getting into the ‘spirit’ of things (no pun intended) by downing lots of shots of whatever people would hand to her.
I remember at around 1am being told she was being sick upstairs in our on-suite bathroom (nice!) and she’d somehow managed to rip the radiator off the wall, which was now dripping water on the carpet a little. I left it with Cally to deal with, as the image they had painted didn’t seem to serious, only for 30 minutes later to lie back on the sofa downstairs, look up, and see the lounge ceiling was leaking everywhere from upstairs!
Unfortunately, as everyone had to shoot off to the airport to fly to Spain, I was left to sort it all out, being told by local plumber ‘the drain doctor’ it could be all fixed for around £800! Luckily, I got a second opinion and it cost a fraction of that but as always, there’s never a dull moment in the Whitby Gage household!
Photos courtesy of the HarderFaster archive. Not to be reproduced without permission.
Frantic & MOTD Present HDS Gangsters
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On:
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Friday 17th July 2009
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At:
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Hidden [map]
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From:
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22:00 - 06:00
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Cost:
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£1 BEFORE MIDNIGHT / £10 AFTER MIDNIGHT
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Website:
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www.hiddenclub.co.uk/eflyers/frantic/hds/july/ef1/
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Ticket Info:
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£1 ENTRY BEFORE MIDNIGHT IF YOU EMAIL YOUR NAMES THROUGH TO HDS@HOTMAIL.CO.UK YOU MUST BRING THE EMAIL CONFIRMATION ON THE NIGHT IN ORDER TO GAIN £1 ENTRY.
ITS £10 AFTER MIDNIGHT AND IT’S ALSO £10 IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED FOR THE £1 GUESTLIST!
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More:
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Frantic & MoreOnTheDoor Present HDS Gangsters
Friday 17th July 2009
2200 – 0600
Hidden, 100 Tinworth Street, Vauxhall, London, SE11 5EQ
£1 BEFORE MIDNIGHT IF YOU EMAIL YOUR NAMES TO HDS@HOTMAIL.CO.UK
£10 AFTER MIDNIGHT / £10 WITHOUT GUEST LIST
3 ROOMS AND OVER 25 DJS PLAYING HARD HOUSE, HARD TRANCE, HARD DANCE AND HARDSTYLE ALL FOR JUST £1!
Following on from the capacity HDS in May where Technikal, Phil Reynolds, JP & Juksey, Frisky, Pete Wardman, Tidy DJs D4rk and many more showed the Hard Dance faithful how it’s done we hit you with another mouth-watering line up!
On Friday 17th July Frantic and MoreOnTheDoor will be showcasing some of the most innovative and pioneering DJs on the Hard Dance circuit so make sure you are there!
In the HDS Red Room we welcome Radio 1’s Kutski as he makes his HDS debut and demonstrates to us why he is the only Hard Dance DJ on Radio 1 to have a weekly slot. Alongside Kutski we have fellow Northerner Klubfiller also debuting at HDS making the dancefloor come alive with his latest productions on Defiance Recordings and AWsum showing us why he is someone to look out for in 2009. CORE Magazine and CL Studios Midlands legend Kye Shand will by making the crowd bounce more than a sea of space hoppers with his unique sounds!
In the Black Room MoreOnTheDoor Gets Filthy as Andy Whitby headlines with his now notorious Filth set that will take you harder and dirtier. Hard House pioneer Ian M will be showing us while he is still top of his game. Scott Fo Shaw will making sure there are plenty Hard House chops to be seen with a Special Filth Set.
Internationally renowned Jon The Baptist & DJ Chuck-E debut at HDS and headline the Blue Room showing us why they are infamous on the Euro Hard Trance scene through their productions on Future Sound Corp and Intolerance Recordings. April and Hoopz will ensure the party goes off with a bang with they’re latest Hard Dance party stompers. Young new inspirational talent Nik Spiers will takes things to a higher state with his Hard Trance sounds.
The theme for the July HDS is Gangsters so get involved by getting your Trilby’s, pimp outfits, Flapper dresses and mobster outfits out!
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Other Features By Simon Gordon:
Rob Tissera will be having One AWsum Xmas!
One AWsum SHOCK:FORCE
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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Comments:
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From: El Hombre on 17th Jul 2009 07:30.01
Why does this site keep sucking his dick. Its the second or third article on him this year.
From: Adam Symbiosis on 17th Jul 2009 09:57.10
We try and space out publishing times for interviews with the same person to make sure there's always something new or interesting to hear from the interviewee, especially when we are considering red interviews which are provided by our promotional partners. However the last time Andy Whitby was featured in an interview was on the 27th Feb 2008 in a preview for the Hard Dance Awards.
From: richbowenuk on 20th Jul 2009 11:03.07
Looking forward to a bit of Filthy Whitby Part 2 @ Twist!!!!!
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